While everyone seems to rave about Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva (and for good reason), I also really enjoyed Tashkent. Uzbekistan’s capital is sometimes treated as little more than a starting point for exploring the Silk Road cities, but I think it’s well worth spending some time here.
From exploring some of Tashkent’s beautifully decorated metro stations and wandering through Chorsu Bazaar to visiting impressive Islamic architecture and surprisingly modern parks, there are plenty of things to do in Tashkent.
I would recommend spending at least one full day in Tashkent, although two days will give you more time to explore without rushing. If you only have a day, I’ve put together a complete one-day Tashkent itinerary that you can follow.
Travelling around Uzbekistan on your own? You can also read my guide to solo female travel in Uzbekistan, where I share my experience and practical tips from my trip.
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Need mobile data in Uzbekistan?
I recommend setting up an eSIM before your trip so you have mobile data as soon as you arrive in Tashkent. It’s especially useful for Google Maps and booking taxis through Yandex Go.
→ Get your Uzbekistan eSIM before your trip
1. Seoul Mun
Seoul Mun was one of the more unexpected places I came across in Tashkent. The area was created to represent the strong relationship between Uzbekistan and South Korea, and the stream running through it reminded me a little of Cheonggyecheon in Seoul.
The area is lined with restaurants and cafés, along with a few shops and fast-food places, making it a nice spot to walk around or stop for something to eat. I especially recommend visiting around sunset or in the evening, when the area lights up and there is usually a water show.
Seoul Mun is also only around a 10-minute walk from Magic City, so it’s easy to combine the two when exploring Tashkent.
2. Explore Tashkent’s metro stations
Exploring the metro stations is probably one of the more unusual things to do in Tashkent, but it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Many stations have their own design, artwork, and theme, so travelling around the city almost feels like visiting a series of underground galleries.
Some of the most impressive stations include Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi and Mustaqillik Maydoni, but you’ll come across plenty of beautiful stations just by using the metro to get around Tashkent.
The metro is also one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel around the city. You can simply tap your bank card when entering the station, and there’s no need to tap out again at the end of your journey.
If you want to learn more about the history and design of the stations rather than just exploring them independently, you can also book a guided tour of Tashkent’s metro stations.
3. Go on a walking tour around Tashkent
I pretty much always recommend taking a walking tour when you first arrive in a new city, and I found it particularly useful in Tashkent. The city is huge and quite spread out, so it can be difficult to know where to start when you’re visiting for the first time.
The walking tour I took in Tashkent was great. My guide, Donat, was very knowledgeable and gave us much more context about the city and its history than I would have picked up just walking around by myself.
The tour also covered several of Tashkent’s main sights, including Chorsu Bazaar, so it’s a good option if you don’t have much time in the city.
→ Check availability for the Tashkent walking tour
4. Chorsu Bazaar
Chorsu Bazaar is one of the most interesting places to visit in Tashkent and definitely somewhere I’d recommend experiencing at least once. It’s a huge market spread across several areas and floors, where you’ll find everything from spices and fruit to sweets, souvenirs and street food.
One of my favourite parts was seeing the freshly baked Uzbek bread. Definitely try some while you’re here!
The size of Chorsu Bazaar can make it a little overwhelming at first, especially when you don’t know where to start. My Tashkent walking tour included a visit to the market, which was a great introduction. I then came back by myself on my final day in Tashkent to buy some souvenirs.
5. Magic City
Magic City is probably one of the more unexpected Tashkent attractions. It’s a large entertainment complex with colourful buildings, restaurants, shops and attractions, including a huge fairytale-style castle.
It’s free to enter Magic City, so you can just walk around without paying for any of the attractions. I think it’s worth visiting even if you aren’t particularly interested in theme parks, especially in the evening when everything is lit up.
Magic City is also only around a 10-minute walk from Seoul Mun, so I’d recommend visiting the two together.
6. Hotel Uzbekistan
Hotel Uzbekistan is one of Tashkent’s most recognisable buildings and a great example of the Soviet-era architecture you’ll find around the city.
Even if you aren’t staying here, it’s worth walking past while exploring this part of Tashkent. The hotel is located near Amir Timur Square, with plenty of green spaces and other interesting buildings nearby, so you can easily include it while sightseeing in central Tashkent.
And if staying inside one of the city’s most iconic buildings sounds fun, you can also check prices for a stay at Hotel Uzbekistan.
7. State Art Museum of Uzbekistan
Tashkent has several museums where you can learn more about Uzbekistan’s history, art and culture, so they’re also a good option if you want a break from sightseeing outside.
During my trip, I visited the State Art Museum of Uzbekistan, where you could see a collection including artwork, ceramics, metalwork and traditional Uzbek fabrics.
8. Hazrati Iman Complex
The Hazrati Imam Complex, also known as Khast Imam, is one of the most important religious sites in Tashkent and one of the places I’d definitely include on a first visit to the city.
The complex consists of several Islamic buildings, including mosques and madrasas, with beautiful blue-tiled architecture and large courtyards. It’s also a much calmer part of the city compared with some of Tashkent’s busier areas.
Make sure to dress respectfully when visiting, as this is an active religious site rather than just a tourist attraction.
9. Relax in the Tashkent City Park
If you need a little break from sightseeing, Tashkent City Park is one of my favourite places to relax in the city.
The park is located next to Tashkent City Mall in a modern part of the city surrounded by cafés, restaurants and impressive new buildings. There are lots of green spaces and benches, making it a nice place to sit for a while after spending the day exploring.
I’d especially recommend coming in the evening when the surrounding buildings are lit up and you can see the fountain show. Just don’t stand quite as close to the fountains as I did — I somehow managed to get completely soaked!
10. See Tashkent from the Television Tower
At 375 metres tall, Tashkent TV Tower is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks and the tallest structure in Central Asia.
It’s located a little outside the centre, but getting there is easy and inexpensive by taxi. I generally used Yandex Go to book taxis while travelling around Uzbekistan.
You can head up the tower for panoramic views across Tashkent, which also gives you a much better idea of just how enormous and spread out the city actually is.
If you have enough time in Tashkent and want to see the city from above, it’s a nice addition to your itinerary.
Do you have another day in Tashkent?
If you have more than one or two days in Tashkent, you could also use the extra time to take a day trip outside the city.
One of the most popular options is a day trip from Tashkent to the Chimgan Mountains, where you’ll get a completely different experience from exploring the capital. The mountain scenery is absolutely beautiful, making this a great addition if you have enough time in your Uzbekistan itinerary.
If you’d rather not organise the transport yourself, you can also book an organised day trip from Tashkent.
→ Check prices and availability for the Chimgan Mountains day trip
Other Practical Information for your trip to Tashkent
Staying Connected in Tashkent
Having mobile data is really useful when exploring Tashkent. I relied on my phone a lot during my trip for getting around, checking directions and looking up places while I was out, so having a reliable way to stay connected is something I always value when travelling.
This section is sponsored by Nomad eSIM. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own.
I personally prefer using eSIMs when travelling as they can be purchased and installed directly on your phone, without having to find somewhere to buy a physical SIM card after arriving. You can also keep your regular SIM in your phone, which makes switching between your home SIM and travel data much easier.
Nomad eSIM offers several data plans for Uzbekistan, which you can purchase and install on an eSIM-compatible phone before your trip. This means you can have everything set up in advance and activate your eSIM when you need it. New Nomad users can also currently try a free 1GB trial eSIM.
Where to stay in Tashkent?
I stayed in two different hotels in Tashkent (which turned out to be just two minutes away from each other). The area they were in was super convenient and in walking distance from metro stations, the Seoul Mun, and Magic City. And also not too far away from the Tashkent train station or the airport.
When I first arrived in Tashkent, I stayed at Shams Art Hotel, which was alright. Later on, I stayed at Art Garden Hotel, which was super nice, and I would definitely stay there again!
Onward travel from Tashkent
Most people start off their Uzbekistan itinerary in Tashkent and then from there travel on to Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva. Those are the most popular destinations to visit in Uzbekistan, and are all best reached by train. You can book your train trips within Uzbekistan via the official Uzbekistan Railways App (or even easier you can book it via 12Go Asia).
Travelling from Tashkent to Bukhara
Bukhara was my next stop after discovering the best things to do in Tashkent. If you take the Afroyisob fast train, then this journey will take around 4 hours and 12 minutes.
The Afroyisob books out very early in advance, so make sure to book your ticket as soon as they go on sale (around 45–60 days before departure). Secure your spot on the train!
Taking the slower train instead would add around two hours to this trip.
Check out my guide about travelling from Tashkent to Bukhara
Travelling from Tashkent to Samarkand
Tashkent and Samarkand are located around 306 km apart from each other. The Afroyisob train travels between the two cities in 2 hours and 13 minutes. With the Sharq train, the journey takes around 3 hours and 19 minutes, so it adds about another hour. Make sure to book your train ticket in advance! (They do sell out quickly!)
Did you know that you can also visit Tajikistan as a day trip from Samarkand? Check out this organised tour I went on to the beautiful seven lakes in Tajikistan! Secure your spot now!
Travelling from Tashkent to Khiva
Khiva is a popular city for travellers to visit, but it is also located on almost the other side of Uzbekistan. So it does take quite a while to get there, and the most common way is to book a 14-hour night train to travel between the two cities.
Again, make sure to book this early if you are planning to include a stop in Khiva during your trip!
How many days do you need in Tashkent?
I recommend spending at least one full day in Tashkent. That’s enough time to see several of the main attractions, explore some of the city’s beautiful metro stations and visit places such as Chorsu Bazaar and the Hazrati Imam Complex.
If you have the time, though, I’d recommend spending two days in Tashkent. You’ll be able to explore at a much more relaxed pace and have more time for places such as Magic City, Tashkent City Park and the TV Tower.
With three days or more, you could also consider using one day for a trip outside the city, such as the Chimgan Mountains.
Let me know if you have any questions about the best things to do in Tashkent or travel in Uzbekistan in general.
Have a nice day!
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